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We were jumping up and down when we received the new InStyle Weddings magazine and saw our Michelle invitation featured, front and center! We were so excited, so thank you thank you thank you InStyle!!
This is the second email I’ve received in the past month with the following greeting:
Hi [Insert Name]:
PR Companies: please try a little bit harder. 
I’m headed to the Cayman Islands this weekend to speak at the Engage ‘09 conference. This is going to be a legendary event because the speakers include:
Darcy Miller – Martha Stewart Weddings
Preston Bailey – Preston Bailey Designs
Carley Roney - The Knot
Marcy Blum – Eventiste
Sylvia Weinstock – Sylvia Weinstock Cakes
Millie Martini Bratten – BRIDE’S Magazine
Antonia van der Meer – Modern Bride & Elegant Bride Magazines
Susan Moynihan – Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine
Lara Casey – Southern Weddings Magazine
Michelle Rago – Michelle Rago, LTD
Randy Fenoli - Kleinfeld Bridal
Sean Low – Preston Bailey Designs
Harmony Walton – The Bridal Bar and Get Married
Abby Larson – Style Me Pretty
Laura Novak – Laura Novak Photography
Liene Stevens – The Smart Planner
Alison Hotchkiss – alison events llc
Thayer Allyson Gowdy - Thayer Photo
Jo-Anne Brown – Celebrations LTD
Simon T. Bailey - “Release Your Brilliance”
Rebecca Grinnals & Kathryn Arce– Engaging Concepts
I was chatting with Sylvia Weinstock and Michelle Rago at an event at the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier last night, and we’re a little concerned that most of the speakers are flying out of New York on the same plane. Luckily I’m not afraid of flying! 
My Cayman’s schedule is pretty jam packed, but I’ll try to squeeze in some updates while I’m there… perhaps poolside? Have a fantastic week everyone!
I gave you guys a peek at my press kit in yesterday’s post about the importance of putting together a media kit.
I’m always tweaking and changing the design (for now…eventually I will finish developing the brand and be happy with what I have!), so this isn’t quite finished yet. It’s nice to have things starting to match and become more cohesive. Anyway, there is one element–the folder–that I know I want to keep for sure, and I want to show you all how I made it.
I got a couple of e-mails after my last Q&A post asking me to elaborate more on creating a press kit to promote your product or services.
First, there are press releases and press kits–today I’m only going to go over press kits. Press releases are announcements that you write about events, promotions, or other newsworthy company information and send to media outlets for publicity–we can talk about that some other time.
…Why?
Are you an artist, musician, designer, promoter, or small business owner? Press kits are a valuable way to take your business to the next level and help you attract attention of media resources that can publicize your product or business for you. We’re talking a little bit of hard work and effort for a big return.
The goal of a press kit, sometimes referred to as a “media kit,” to get whatever it is you’re selling out of your home studio and into the pages of magazines and the homes of your target market. It’s to let people know that you exist and you’re doing fabulous things. It’s to sell yourself. Magazines, blogs, and other websites make their business out of searching for the next cool business or product, so why not make it easy for them and introduce yourself?
Read more…
I just received my flight confirmation and itinerary for Engage 09, a 3 day conference in the Cayman Islands I’ll be speaking at later this month! That reminds me that I need to:
1) Purchase some summerwear. I’m in love with this entire set from Orla Kiely!
and 2) Get some media training.
It’s been an extremely busy week, but I don’t have much to show for it yet. I’m in the mood to make an easy post and answer more questions from you!
Q: What is your favorite color scheme and trend right now?
A: I love red. red red red. I was reading through a back issue of Where Women Create (awesome mag) and one of the featured artists said that she treated red like a neutral, and that really stuck with me. I’m starting to see shades of red matching with everything. I’m also totally in love with marigold and silver–that I have been into for a while though.
My favorite trends right now are heart-shaped glasses and super geometric patterns and construction.
It’s taken me long enough to blog about this! I’m waiting on some pro pics, but here are a couple pictures from my little Canon point and shoot from the Modern Bride Trendsetter Awards dinner earlier this month.
Q: How long did it take for you to start to see some success with your ideas/products/creations? (From Corinne)
A: I love this question so much that I want to make an entire post about it. It’s an interesting thing to reflect on.
I started Princess Lasertron in 2005 and for about two years, it was very very part-time. I think it took me a while to understand…
1. who my customer was
2. where my strengths were as an artist
3. how to brand my products and create publicity and buzz
I always say that my wedding in 2008 was the thing that really brought me the exposure I had been looking for, but I’ve also learned many lessons in the last four years that contributed to my growth. The major ones include..
1. Getting involved in my community. When you’re trying to sell a product, you are no longer an artist but a business person as well. There is nothing more valuable in the art and design community than good friends who will have good things to say about you, so it’s important to go out and meet people, attend events and shows, and volunteer in local organizations. Most artists receive opportunities not from cold calls or unsolicited submissions, but because of a recommendation from another artist or expert. That’s how important it is to meet people and make a connection in your community.
And it’s not a constant sales pitch either–ask what others are creating, doing, thinking, dreaming. Offer to donate pieces to charity events or serve on committees.
2. Defining my goals. I have a huge poster in my studio of my goals for 2009. Looking at it every day keeps me focused and which options will help me get there.
You guys had such good questions for me! So many of them would take an entire post to answer, but I want to go through some of my favorite short ones.
Q: How long does it usually take you to create a bouquet?
A: Each bouquet takes about 40 hours from start to finish. Managing about sixteen brides per month, most of whom have more than one bouquet or are outfitting their entire bridal party, takes more time than there is in a day…which is where my amazing employee Hollie comes in.
My husband also helps me by cutting out flower shapes, doing random sewing when I am in a pinch, and my mom picks up supplies for me. So they take a lot of time, but I also have a lot of help.
Q: Do you find it difficult to balance all your emails/orders/new project ideas? (from Kelly)
A: Yes. I have so many ideas that just haven’t made it out of my head yet because my first responsibility is to fulfill my bridal orders, and the new projects have to come last. Sometimes it is frustrating because I feel like I have to produce produce produce as fast as I can to get my idea out before someone else does. And I admit it–It’s hard to see something really cool and original on Etsy and think, “dang, I was going to do that.”
I’ll share some of the new projects I have coming up though. Website redesign. New storefront. I’ll have the boutonniere and corsage kits of course. And a line of dresses -wait until you see the sketches!
The annual National Stationery Show is taking place here in New York May 17-20th, and I’ll be swinging by on the 17th. I always joke that I need a wheelchair to make it around to every booth because there are over 1000 exhibitors!
Some of our good friends like Wiley Valentine, Hello Lucky, and Smock/Bella Figura will be there. The National Stationery Show is a great way to discover some of the up and coming forces in the stationery world. This event is only open to wholesalers and press so unfortunately the general public can’t attend, but I promise I’ll be back with tons of pictures!
Though I’ve attended the show a couple times in the past, this is the first year that I registered as “press” — in the past I’ve attended as a guest of friends who were exhibiting. Registering as press has definitely been a different experience because I’ve been getting samples, emails, and phone calls galore from exhibitors who want me to stop by their booth.
I feel so fortunate to live in Manhattan, because it’s the wedding capital of the US — all the wedding magazines, designers, bridal shows, Bridal Market and many top vendors are based out of here. I wonder if Weddingbee would have been different if I still lived in LA and wasn’t able to have access to all the opportunities I have here.
Anyway I digress — I’ll be stopping by as many booths as possible this Sunday, so be on the lookout for a little Asian girl with a press badge!
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